Why do some houses have no basement?

Basements built in California are often below sea level, so extra measures must be taken to prevent flooding and other water-related issues. Most contractors working in California try to reduce expenses wherever possible, and excluding basements from homes fulfills this goal.

Why do most Southern homes not have basements?

The chief culprit of most missing basements in the South is damp soil. Even in drier climates, the clay composition in the soil can make basements impractical or even dangerous. While this kind of soil doesn’t have enough water in it to cause flooding, mold, or rot, it can play havoc with the basement walls.

What percentage of homes have basements?

Fewer than a quarter (24.3 percent) of single-family homes built in 2018 have basements, according to NAHB analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction in a recent Eye on Housing blog post.

Why do Californians not have basements?

“It’s easier to build without a basement if you were doing assembly-line construction.” In addition, fear of earthquakes was often cited as a reason for the dearth of basements in the Golden State.

Why do US houses have basement?

And while some homes are better built without basements because of moisture issues, there are still millions of existing basements that need help. The reason we have basements at all is because years ago people needed to have frost-free spaces before the days that heating systems kept homes above freezing all the time.

Do houses in Oregon have basements?

In the earlier days of housing in Oregon, pretty much prior to about 1940, the people building homes often had come West and were building what they were familiar with. So in the Portland area, and even here in Lake Oswego, the houses built prior to 1940 usually do have a basement.

Do houses still have basements in the US?

Post-World War II there was a bomb shelter craze – my own grandparents in California had one.” The Block 2021 listings are live. See them here. Gerschler says while many older American homes still have basements, a lot of newer homes don’t. “A lot of people look at basements as creepy, haunted places,” he says.

Is it worth having a basement in an Australian home?

Whether it’s because we think they are breeding grounds for all things spooky or simply not worth the fuss, it’s quite rare to find a fully fledged underground space in Australian homes. However, while having a basement may not sound like the most exciting home design aesthetic, there is no denying the benefit of extra space they offer.

Are Australian builders good at waterproofing underground buildings?

Australian builders aren’t generally that good at waterproofing underground constructions – it’s not taught in detail at technical college, and they don’t get much experience in the apprentice component of their training.

Is it possible to build an underground extension on a house?

Any underground extensions can only be generally done where your home is on a steep site and is unusually high or elevated off the ground at one end. In newly built homes it is easier to dig and construct a basement prior to the rest of the structure being built.